Portsmouth hit by fresh injury set-back – as John Mousinho turns to former Havant & Waterlooville loanee

Portsmouth FC have been dealt another setback after Makenzie Kirk was ruled out of their impressive win over Millwall FC through injury.
The striker’s absence unexpectedly handed Reuben Swann his first inclusion in a Blues matchday squad since signing nearly 20 months ago. Pompey were handed a boost ahead of the trip to The Den with Harvey Blair returning from the hip flexor issue he sustained against Arsenal FC last month, which had sidelined him for six matches.
However, Kirk took his place in the treatment room after manager John Mousinho revealed the forward felt discomfort in his Achilles during training last week. As a result, Swann was recalled from his loan spell at Havant & Waterlooville and named among the substitutes for the 3-1 victory over Alex Neil’s side just a day later.
Swann was ultimately not required from the bench, as second-half strikes from Gustavo Caballero, John Swift and Marlon Pack secured back-to-back Championship wins for the visitors.
Speaking to The News, Mousinho explained that the decision to bring Swann back was influenced by the club’s current shortage of fit players. Kirk’s issue, while not considered serious, meant he was not ready for Saturday’s clash.
The Pompey boss added that Swann had been performing well during his loan spell and Havant were keen to keep him, but the club felt it was important to prioritise his development by having him train regularly at Fratton Park.
Swann’s most recent appearance for the Hawks came as a late substitute in a 1-0 victory at Weymouth in the Southern League Premier South. Earlier in the month, he earned man-of-the-match honours after coming on at half-time in a goalless draw with Basingstoke Town.
The 20-year-old had joined Havant for a third stint on an initial month-long loan in mid-December, alongside Harry Clout, with both players now back at Fratton Park. Clout, however, failed to make an appearance under Aaron Martin and has also found opportunities limited during loan spells at Farnborough and Welling this season.
Swann signed from AFC Sudbury in June 2024 for an undisclosed fee and is approaching the end of his contract, although Pompey retain the option to extend his stay. His time on the south coast has been hampered by injuries, including being restricted to just one pre-season friendly last summer.
Meanwhile, Pompey’s injury list continues to grow. Andre Dozzell is expected to be sidelined for four weeks with an ankle problem, joining Conor Chaplin, Aji Alese, Keshi Anderson, Conor Shaughnessy, Mark Kosznovszky, Hayden Matthews, Franco Umeh, Josh Murphy, Florian Bianchini, Thomas Waddingham and Josh Knight on the sidelines.